Colorful Carnival
Absolutely spectacular, Rotterdam Zomer Carnival is a huge event of Rotterdam and one of the largest in Europe. Known as Zomercarnaval, the event features dances, Latin music, exotic food and the street Parade. The carnival takes place in end of July and attracts about 600,000 visitors annually. Similar to the carnival at Rio de Janeiro, Zomer Carnival of Rotterdam combines the colors of Dutch and Aruban cultures at the same platform. Features
At Zomer Carnival in Rotterdam, visitors can enjoy a variety of events that present different forms of music, dance shows and parades. The events at Zomer Carnival are as follows:
- Street Parade: This is one of the most significant features of Zomer Carnival. Dance, Latin music and colorful costumes form the highlights of this event. All this, along with a festive atmosphere attracts more than 2000 participants and a huge crowd of spectators.
- Queen Election: The carnival is incomplete without a queen. The Queen of Zomercarnaval is in the limelight during the Street Parade. The Queen Election declares a winner and she remains the Zomercarnaval Queen for one year.
- Battle of Drums: With brass bands providing rocking music, the Battle of Drums is a musical competition that presents brass music, a significant part of Antillean culture. The band that performs the best is awarded with the title 'Best Brassband Zomercarnaval'.
The Bavaria Podium and the Latin Dance Square at Zomercarnaval are the places where the crowd can enjoy live music and dance till the early hours of morning. At Mercado, visitors can get a taste of mouthwatering Dutch food and also shop for various items.
The main sponsor of Zomercarnaval is Ortel Mobile. The event has ranked second in the list of national events of Netherlands. Offering a few days of music, dance, fun, food and enjoyment, Zomercarnaval is something not to be missed out if you are visiting Rotterdam during July.
